Monastic practice offers me the gift of paying attention to the seasons of the day and the year. February 1st is a potent time. On the Celtic wheel of the year it is Imbolc (meaning “stirring in the belly”) which is one of the cross-quarter days falling between the Solstice and the Equinox. Imbolc marks [...]
Posted in Cycles and Seasons | 14 Comments »
In ancient times, wise men and women fled out into the desert to find a place where they could be fully present to God and to their own inner struggles at work within them. The desert became a place to enter into the refiner’s fire and be stripped down to one’s holy essence. The desert [...]
Posted in Abbey Online Classes, Advent Christmas Epiphany, Cycles and Seasons, Lenten Online Retreat | 140 Comments »
The following reflection is excerpted from my latest Reflective Art Journal – Crossing the Threshold: New Year, New Beginnings – visit the Abbey Shop to order your copy today filled with reflections and suggestions for a creating a meaningful ritual for entering into the New Year ahead.
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I am fascinated by the human desire for renewal [...]
Posted in Cycles and Seasons, zine journal | 5 Comments »
These dark days of autumn rain, are beautiful as days can be;
the desolate, deserted trees, the faded earth, the heavy sky;
I learned to know the love of dark November days.
-Robert Frost
Thank you to everyone who participated in this week’s Poetry Party – such a beautiful and transcendent collection of poems await you there. Pour yourself [...]
Posted in Cycles and Seasons | 8 Comments »
The autumn equinox is tomorrow.
What are you releasing that no longer energizes you?
What dreams do you want to harvest this season?
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
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Posted in Cycles and Seasons, Visual Meditation | 7 Comments »
This week was the Abbey’s first Photo Party and there was a lovely gathering of images. Thank you so much to everyone who participated and shared their photos and art in honor of the Summer Solstice. The winner of this week’s random drawing for a copy of Illuminating Mystery: Creativity as Spiritual Practice is isa. Send me your snail mail [...]
Posted in Cycles and Seasons, Photos, Poetry | 2 Comments »
. . . there is also a Great Autumn.
What is being released within you to make way for summer’s fruit?
© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts
Posted in Cycles and Seasons, Nature | 3 Comments »
In the dead of night he suddenly beheld a flood of light shining down from above more brilliant than the sun, and . . . the whole world was gathered up before his eyes in what appeared to be a single ray of light.
-The Life and Miracles of Saint Benedict by Pope St. Gregory the [...]
Posted in Cycles and Seasons | 4 Comments »
For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!
-Song of Songs 2:11-13
The [...]
Posted in Cycles and Seasons, zine journal | 2 Comments »
“In a dark time, the eye begins to see.” -Theodore Roethke
“Wisdom comes with winter.” -Oscar Wilde
I love the bare branches of winter trees spread across the muted sky. Those aching arms that have been stripped of encumbrance to reveal the bones.
When autumn comes I am dizzy with delight at the release of fluttering jeweled prayer [...]
Posted in Cycles and Seasons | 9 Comments »
